So much has happened in the last couple of months I am not at all sure I will remember everything, but I will try. It was decided that the recording sessions for Moana 2 would happen in Sydney not Warner Brothers studios like last time. Just when the sessions would happen, no-one could say. With Moana 2, Moana live Action and the Disney D23 all competing for available recording time and personnel it has been a challenge for all concerned. I did know they needed more female singers so the Sydney wide search began for singers who knew and could sing in a Pacific language. They also wanted children. There were so many audition tapes to watch, emails to send, changes to make as recording dates and details kept changing. I had been given the task by Disney legal in Burbank to co-ordinate everything. Had I known exactly what was involved in hiring children I may have had second thoughts. I don't know that much I have done over the years has stressed me quite as much as being told “NO” by the hiring children authorities that 7 days was required and that I would have to change the planned recording dates for the children or not be able to hire them at all or have a $5,000.00 per child fine for the 6 children if I went ahead anyway. As it happened recording the children on the last day of vocals rather than the first was perfect.
When we finally got the recording date, there was no time to spare - flights & accommodation had to be booked, additional singers, children, rental vehicles - so much to do in a very short space of time. As Te Vaka members are spread out across Sydney, Auckland, Brisbane and the US, plus there were 5 new singers it seemed like a good idea to have a couple of days rehearsal at our home studio before sending everyone into a hotel to be closer to Trackdown Studios in the middle of the city. So this was planned to ensure we were all ready for the recordings.
When we found out that David Derrick (the Director) and his wife Tiffany, Andrew Page (the music supervisor) and David Boucher (the legendary Disney recording engineer) had decided to be at our house for the rehearsals, we wanted to plan something very special. After a fantastic day of rehearsing with everyone. The “Big big Aloha” Hawaiian food truck arrived with the best ever selection of Polynesian food. Keeping the next part of the evening a surprise, we had quietly installed a marquee on the front lawn for what we thought was going be around 10-15 performers. After the food we ushered everyone out to where the performance was about to take place, no-one knowing what to expect. The Disney team and all present were treated to a stellar show by the Matavai cultural Arts group of around 30 performers and family, performing dances from across the Pacific ending in a wonderful address by Moemoana Schwenke who is currently Miss Samoa and Miss Pacific Islands. It was a real treat.
The Disney team were very moved by the show and the people and everything they had experienced. I know for sure this will translate into a very very special movie.
Blog by Julie Foai